but what i really wanted to share today
was the story of how my writing went from
occasional story-telling in Textile Fibre Forum mag
to books - so many folks have asked if i have an agent, how did i find a publisher etc

it goes something like this.
way back at the turn of the century, Qantas
[Australia's Skippy emblazoned national carrier]
contacted me wanting a sample felt bowl to shoot for their Japanese inflight magazine
called Spirit
so i sent a couple of bowls and
some months later
they enquired about a photoshoot

it duly happened, a story was published
i couldn't read it cos it was in Kanji or Katakana or something but the pix were cute
shot by mybro
i put it in the filing box and got on with life

some months later the phone rings
-this is an Event in itself in our house -
and a shy voice speaking in strongly accented english
asks if i will teach a private felt workshop at home.
first instinct in head screams NO WAY.
but universe taps me on shoulder and says, hey, listen.

so i ask why...and who
turns out it is Toyoko, who was Art Director for Spirit.
the magazine has been scrapped [good old cost cutting]
and she is now jobless

so i take an unusual dance-step
and invite Toyoko to come stay for a weekend.
no charge.
[most unusual, for me. i'm a complete hermit and we hadn't even met at this point]
some weeks later we collect a slight bespectacled figure
wearing a somewhat frayed but still gorgeous velvet detailed Comme des Garcons coat
from the hangar where Virgin used to land when they first started flying here

i teach her how to make felt
let her play in the studio
introduce her to sheep
and take her back to the airport at the end of the long weekend

again, i get on with life
from time to time an exquisite letter arrives in the post
and tells me that Toyoko is managing to sell felt at various markets
which pays the rent
and puts a scrap of food on the table
this is good.

skip to about three years later
and i get a phone call from Murdoch Books
"would i be interested in writing a book about felt?"
well, yes of course, but how did they find me?
turns out Toyoko had been to see them with her portfolio
[she's a book designer by profession]
and they'd looked and made "how nice noises"
but seemed more interested in her bag
which was made of felt [by her]
Toyoko kindly told them where she'd learned
and they'd rung me.
which is why we did that first book together.
me doing the writing and the two of us sharing the projects.

so i never went looking for a publisher, nor do i have an agent.
Toyoko designed the look of Second Skin
and also published a gorgeous book of her own'pass me a smile'

11 comments:

Wonderful story, India, and a good lesson for fellow hermits like me who instinctively say 'No' because we're scared (of what I'm never quite sure...failure...or maybe success followed by expectations?), when inside we're thinking 'hey, this could be really interesting if I just had a bit more courage'!

Thanks for this wonderful story of saying yes when it's so much easier to say NONONONONO.....I love hearing about your steps forward and seeing you as a growing Being, not just an Arrived. Thank you dear Indi

I love how life throws us in the way of things. My friend said to me once, take every opportunity given to you, small or big, this is how things happen and who knows where you could end up.thanks for the visual feasts. I am full for another while now :-)cheers!

workshops

if you're on Facebook anyway and would like to join a group for advance notice of workshops (generally 48 hours with the exception of those organised by groups with a private mailing list) please click here to join

the bundle book

the pocket guide to botanical alchemy (remember to choose your country at the bottom righthand corner of the Blurb site)

the workroom

a link to my website

books

While I am a lover of bookstores and reluctant to take away from their viabilityI am also keen that people acquire my books [a girl has to make a living]So I'll confess that I've signed up as an affiliate of the Book Depository.